Chapter 17
Lena brought Caleb back to her place and pulled out a first–aid kit to clean his wounds.
Caleb observed her, hesitant to speak.
Then, Lena set the kit down and said, “Just say what’s on your mind.”
Caleb noticed the strain in her expression and hesitated. Upon seeing his concern, Lena spoke first. “That was Micah,” she said, exhaling softly. “My ex- husband.”
Caleb’s eyes widened, his composure slipping. He knew nothing of her past or what Mical had meant to her.
Lena noticed his worry and gave a small laugh. “Ex–husband, Caleb. I’m over him.”
Relief washed over him. “Can I ask why you two split?”
Lena’s hand paused as she was reaching for a cotton pad. Caleb quickly backtracked and said, “You don’t have to answer. I shouldn’t have asked.”
Lena dabbed an alcohol–soaked cotton on the cut at his lip. Caleb winced, grimacing at the sting. “If you didn’t want to talk, you could’ve just said so,” he teased, his voice carrying a playful pout.
She sighed. “It’s simple. I stopped loving him.”
Her distant, hollow look tugged at Caleb’s heart. Wanting to lift her spirits, he grinned. “Everyone’s got a jerk in their past. Kick him to the curb and move on. What about me? Think I’d make a good replacement?”
Lena looked at him, and to his surprise, she nodded. “Maybe.”
Caleb blinked, caught off guard. After a moment, he stammered, “Wait–You’re saying you’re open to me pursuing you?”
Caleb had always been kind, attentive, and genuine to her. Micah had hurt her enough that she’d shut herself off from love. But now, she saw how much that pain had held her back and how many moments she’d missed.
As she looked into Caleb’s earnest eyes, she decided she deserved a chance to start again.
“Yeah,” she softly said. “Unless you’re having second thoughts? Or is it because I was married?”
Caleb quickly shook his head. “No way. I was worried you were joking. And if we’re talking regrets, I was the one who should’ve been braver back then,” he said, holding her hand. “Maybe I’d have married you then.”
Lena frowned. “Have we met before?” She studied his face, but nothing clicked. Caleb’s features were striking, and he was popular at school–she should’ve remembered him.
Caleb grinned, not dragging it out. “I used to be a chubby kid. You probably wouldn’t be able to connect that to me now.”
When she heard that, a memory clicked in her mind. “Wait, you’re Chubs?”
Caleb laughed, nodding. “Finally remembered?”
They’d met in an after–school club. Back then, Caleb had been overweight and was often ignored by the other kids. Lena had found him crying in a corner one day and offered to be friends. They grew close until he moved away.
“I was at that gala too,” Caleb said, sitting beside her.
“Why didn’t I see you? Why didn’t you come say hi?”
“I wanted to,” he said, a flicker of sadness in his eyes. “You were too caught up with Micah to notice me. I’d slimmed down by then, but you didn’t recognize me. I thought you didn’t want to see me, so I left. I felt like an idiot.”
Lena hadn’t realized that they’d crossed paths like that. Maybe, as Caleb said, things could’ve been different if he’d spoken up.
“That day at the airport wasn’t a coincidence either,” he admitted. “I begged Mr. Norwood to let me pick you up.
“Lena, I’ve liked you ever since we were kids. Thank you for giving me a chance to pursue you.”
